Meteoric rise just ‘unreal’ for Snakes forward
From development player, to little used bench option and now representing an NBL club at a finals launch. It has been a serious rise for an emerging Cairns Taipans forward.
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From development player, to little used bench option and now representing an NBL club at a finals launch alongside Olympians and MVP winners.
It has been a serious rise for forward Fabijan Krslovic over the last 12 months or so.
Last week, alongside NBL first-teamer and teammate Scott Machado, the dual Marlin-Taipan represented the FNQ club at the NBL finals launch.
Other clubs sent Casper Ware and Chris Goulding, perennial stars in the competition.
Not many had the Taipans making the play-offs this season, most had them down the bottom of the ladder again.
And, if they were going to make the top four, the chances of the 24-year-old, an elevated development player, being on hand for the club would have been slim.
While Krslovic, who averages just three points a game and does not start, may have looked like the odd man out for some, his presence at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne was a nod to his improvement in season 2019-20.
The 203cm forward has progressed as the season has gone on, receiving more minutes, highlighted by a 12 point and eight rebound effort against Brisbane in Round 20.
His influence was recognised on Friday evening at the club’s awards dinner, receiving the coaches award from Mike Kelly and his staff.
“It has been unreal,” Krslovic said.
“Representing the club, it is an awesome feeling and I have loved my time over the last two years in Cairns and the community.
“I still have a ways to go, I know how I can be as a player and what I can do.
“I do not want to stay comfortable about what I have done this season, there is still growth to come.”
In his own words, Krslovic does not try to do too much when coach Kelly sends him into the game, just letting shot fly and making plays when he can, he says.
Regular watchers of the QBL would know the Sydney product has always been an excellent rebounder and interior presence, but he has improved his shot from range this season as well.
He drained a triple in each of the last four games of the season, including two against the Bullets.
“It is a big step up from the start of the year, being the first year playing in the NBL properly,” Krslovic said.
“The more minutes you get and being thrown out there in more tough situations, you get more confident.
“Shooting the three ball, it is something that the coaches really emphasise for me and want me to work on.
“I can still get better around decision making, but I think I am on the right path, the coaches talk to me about growth and being confident in myself, that is what I am trying to do.”
Krslovic will be called upon to play important minutes in the NBL semi-finals series, starting Friday night in Western Australia.
Originally published as Meteoric rise just ‘unreal’ for Snakes forward